Baby safety – playing and eating – and a give away from PlaySkool
July 15, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Women's Health
(The give-away is now over but please keep reading for information on checking if toys are safe for your baby)
Few things make a mom happier than seeing her baby happy and content. In fact, there was a study published recently about how a baby’s smile actually activates the reward center of a mom’s brain (Baby’s smile gives mom a natural high).
One of the first things moms (and dads!) tend to do when preparing for baby is to bring home toys and things that will amuse their child. What many parents don’t realize though is that a baby doesn’t need a lot of things – he or she just needs a few things that will stimulate the senses and encourage movement and activity.
Toy safety:
Choking is one of the major causes of injury in young babies. They’re so curious and they want to put everything in their mouth – you can see how that would happen. So, it’s vital that you ensure the toys you pick are made by reputable companies. You want to be sure the toy isn’t too small and that it can’t break apart under the abuse given it by your baby.
Here’s a quick video I made to show you how you can tell if a toy is too small for your baby:
Choking can also happen at meal and snack time. Foods need to be appropriate for the age of the child. Even older children can choke because they’re in such a rush to eat sometimes, that they don’t chew their food properly or they may laugh or talk while eating, causing the food to go down before it’s ready too.
Some tips for food safety:
Don’t give large pieces of food that need to be well chewed. Any food you give a young child without teeth needs to be able to dissolve in the mouth. Once they start getting teeth, they can start gumming and chewing foods like banana, that will fall apart anyway.
Give away!
Now – on the topic of toys and food, Playskool has donated two gifts to give to the readers of Womb Within.
The first is the Shake Rattle and Roll Teether and the second is the Heat Sensitive Plastic Spoons:
I had a look at them and they are cute and sturdy, both at the same time. They’d be great for throwing into a gift basket even. According to Playskool, the products are exclusively avaliable at CVS.pharmacy and on CVS.com if you want to go get them yourself.
In order to win one of the prizes, I’d like you to tell me about another post on Womb Within – what made you read it, what you learned, or what you found interesting. Just leave a comment in the comment section below. The contest will run from today until 11:59 PM EST on July 29th. Each eligible entry will get a number as it comes in and I’ll randomize them to get the winners. Please be sure you check your emails or come back here to check after the contest because if I haven’t heard back from you after two weeks, I’ll draw another name.
Thanks and good luck!
Images: Playskool
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I’m not entering (I don’t have children, or younger brothers, sisters, nieces or nephews to give these to and my godchild is two states away, ha, so I don’t want to take away from someone who needs these prizes more), but I did want to leave a comment and tell you how cute your glasses are!
Not entering either but I love the contest idea and the video is great as an addition on the site. Also, when my girls were young I loved the spoons that changed color when too hot- it is a great little safety tool I think.
I’d love to give these to my neice for her baby.
Very informative video. Those heat sensitive spoons are very nice. Better safe than sorry when it comes to little ones.
food safety is important. I’m glad you included it in your blog. I also enjoyed your video. I think that makes me feel more like a “friend” is speaking with me.
I loved watching “The menstrual cycle explained in the 50s or 60s”. It was a hoot!
i had never heard of heat sensitive spoons.
The spoons look like a great prize!
I loved the in-vitro blog because its hard to imagine that its already been 30 years. I would alos loooove the spoons for my daughter because they are sooooooo cute.
My grandchildren have aLOT of eating problems. Digestive and allergies. These would be great for them.
Thanks for all the excellent contests!
I liked the article on fish oil supplements and asthma. I just found out that I am pregnant last week and found that article very interesting since my husband suffers from relatively sever asthma. Anything that I can do to improve my baby’s chances the better!
The article, ‘Postpartum Depression Can Hit Dads Too’ caught my eye because it was a new topic to me. It stated that 1 in 25 men become depressed after the baby arrives.
gkstratos@ yahoo.com
It’s nice that your blog included information about food safety, because that definitely is important, especially with small children.
Also the tidbit on toy safety was very informative, it was a good read! The video was very helpful!!
The fetal development area was very interesting! I liked all the videos!
I know if I have anymore questions, I can always come here for suggestions!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Kelsey
rawrissexy@gmail.com
I’d love to win these for my sister who is expecting her first. The In-vitro blog was quite interesting..
great thanks
Very informative video.
I really love the In Vitro Blog. What a cool thing!
I read the ABC’s Of Pregnancy, because I’m currently pregnant and get lost A LOT on some of the things the doctor says, haha, this was really interesting!!!
I loved The menstrual cycle explained in the 50s or 60s.
I enjoyed reading the Health and Men – as a psychotherapist I work with men who are usually pretty uncommited to their health!
I like your article about Over 30 pregnancy and surrogate mothers and how society views them.
I have six beautiful children and I’ve always wanted to be a surrogate, it would be wonderful to give the gift of life to another family. (Especially a same-sex couple, I think that would be wonderful to do)
I am also 35 and have a 6 month old, so I know the difference in childbirth at 18 and older, it’s a great experience.
Thank you for the giveaway. My two youngest would be wonderful for these gifts!
I read “4 helpful solutions for failing diet” because I’m working on changing my eating habits, and , like any woman trying to lose weight, have had and probably will have weak spots where I fail for a day. (especially if pizza has anything to do with it)
I read the womb surgery under Pregnancy stories-very intereting
I liked the article on Pregnancy and Fiber=lower chance of preeclampsia? because it’s nice to know there may be a lesser chance of getting that condition during pregnancy. I have never experienced it yet, but I am into my second pregnancy and do get worried about it. Thanks for some great articles and thanks for a great opportunity to win! These spoons and the teether will definitely come in handy!
I read Naming Baby,we are in the process of helping our son an Daugter in law in choosing a name for our new grandbaby,wont know what the sex is until this week,was looking for some ideals to help us in the process,its their first baby
Spoons are great idea for sweepstake!
spoons
These spoons are really great.
I read “4 Helpful Solutions For Failing Diet”
because I really would like to lose weight and change my eating habits for good. I am not too overly weight, but I would like to slim down some, and the article made a lot of good tips.
Thanks for the great articles, and information.
And of course the amazing giveaway!
Could be used for my cousins baby who is due in October!
Thanks!
Kelsey
rawrissexy@gmail.com
The menstral cycle in the 50’s and 60’s, cuz I thought it was an age thing but it was totally hilarious
I am always fasinated by unusual baby names, so I had to read your article on Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii!
I liked the video on Caesarian Sections. I found it very interesting and informative. I am pregnant with our third child and was able to deliver naturally with the first two but liked that this video showed how it would be if I need to deliver that way this time. I especially like that it was very straightforward. Thanks for the chance to win.
I enjoyed the article on Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii! I love unique and unusal names. Some people come up with really creative names, but I think this name is beyond embarassing for the poor child!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Kelsey
rawrissexy@gmail.com
The article on fish oil supplements and asthma was interesting – our cat is actually having to take fish oil supplements for an allergy!
I loved the review on the Baby Emergency Handbook. I had to buy one for myself. I like knowing the information the you will need if an emergency ever occurs with your little ones.
I liked the news from FDA warnings about the Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream. It is upsetting that I might buy something to help me but would hurt my child.
I love the safety spoons (great idea)!
The one that hit me was the one about pain associated with pregnancy. It talked about the stretching of the ligaments and how that was painful and I had that really bad. It felt like I was being sliced from the inside with a razor blade. It was horrible!
under safety -pregnancy can affect your pets,how it can take away attention you give to your pets
Interesting that men can also have postpartum depression.
I want to win
I read the 10 ten baby names article. It’s interesting how a lot of the traditional baby names have remained popular.
The article on fish oil supplements and asthma was interesting.
I wanted to read your section on having babies after age 35 because I just had my first at 34 and want to have another. I had no idea that my chance of having twins would go up.
OMG!!! I think I saw this in health/PE class –The menstrual cycle explained in the 50s or 60s. You know — where the boys go to one room and the girls to another to see the appropriate movie… then nobody made eye contact with the opposite sex for a week. LOL Thanks so much for this giveaway.
i thought this was interesting because i have had 5 csections…..Can a Caesarian section raise your risk of stroke?
I like the section on fetal development.
I enjoyed reading “The mothering instinct of animals” because I love animals!
I am in search of the tips for how to grow a child in a safe manner. I had a child last few months ago. so please provide if any tips.
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john